Welcome to Shepherd of the Lakes! We’re here to shepherd Christ’s flock and seek the lost sheep by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with all. Come, let us worship!

For your convenience,in the back corner of the sanctuary there is a room for any parents with children in need of a quiet place. The restrooms are located on the lower level. Please ask if you have any questions or concerns.

Lord Jesus, you alone sought us out, forgave us, bought us, made us your own. You promised a cross for all who follow you. Lead me to see your cross, that I may find joy in the cross you have given me; AMEN.

Consolation & Comfort through Faith:

In other words, sin terrifies consciences. This happens through the Law, which shows God’s wrath against sin. But we gain the victory through Christ. How? Through faith, when we comfort ourselves by confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake. ... God’s wrath cannot be appeased if we set our own works against it. For Christ has been set forth as an Atoning Sacrifice so, that for His sake, the Father may be reconciled to us. But Christ is not received as a Mediator except by faith. Therefore, by faith alone we receive forgiveness of sins when we comfort our hearts with confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake. Likewise, Paul says in Romans 5:2, “Through Him we have also obtained access” and adds, “by faith.” Therefore, we are reconciled to the Father and receive forgiveness of sins when we are comforted with confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake.Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Article 5 (Concordia p. 130)

Because He Knew:

Jesus knew the cross that awaited him; he knew the resurrection afterward. He had told this to his disciples numerous times – and now, as the day draws nearer, Jesus prepared his disciples for a cross.What is our cross, and how may we carry it?

SUNDAY SCHOOL: ”Friend, I’m Sorry”

LITURGY: CW p. 38

Please rise.

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

M: Almighty God, you see that we have no power to defend ourselves. Guard and keep us both outwardly and inwardly from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

The Word

FIRST READING: Genesis 28:10-17

The merciful presence of God is certain, because of grace alone:

10Jacob set out from Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and decided to spend the night there, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from that place, put it under his head, and lay down to sleep in that place. 12He had a dream in which he saw a stairway set up on the earth with its top reaching to heaven. There were angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13There at the top stood the LORD, who said, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you are lying, I give to you and to your descendants. 14Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15Now, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back again into this land. Indeed, I will not leave you, until I have done what I have promised to you.”

16Jacob woke up from his sleep, and he said, “Certainly the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17He was afraid and he said, “How awe-inspiring is this place! This is nothing other than the house of God, and this is the gate to heaven.”

PSALM OF THE DAY: 73, CW p. 94

SECOND READING: Romans 5:1-11

The miracle of Lent – Christ the innocent, suffering for sinners and in their place makes them innocent in God’s sight:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice confidently on the basis of our hope for the glory of God.

3Not only this, but we also rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, 4and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character produces hope. 5And hope will not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us.

6For at the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7It is rare indeed that someone will die for a righteous person. Perhaps someone might actually go so far as to die for a person who has been good to him. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, it is even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, it is even more certain that, since we have been reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11And not only is this so, but we also go on rejoicing confidently in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received this reconciliation.

THEME VERSE: Philippians 2:8

Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL READING: Mark 8:31-38

The Cross:

31Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things; be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the experts in the law; be killed; and after three days rise again. 32He was speaking plainly to them. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33But after turning around and looking at his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have your mind set on the things of God, but the things of men.”

34He called the crowd and his disciples together and said to them, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36After all, what good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38In fact, whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Readings from John 2, Exodus 20, Romans 8Verse of the Day John 3:14-15

THIS WEEK

Today 1 Samuel 26

9:30 AM - Second Sunday of Lent

10:45 AM – Sunday School. Bible Class: The Flood

Monday 1 Samuel 27

Tuesday 1 Samuel 28

7 PM - CAP

Wednesday 1 Samuel 29

5-6 PM – Small Catechism Class

6 PM - Lenten Supper

7 PM - Ash Wednesday Worship

Thursday 1 Samuel 30

Friday 1 Samuel 31

Saturday 2 Samuel 1

Sunday 2 Samuel 2

9:30 AM - Lent 3 Worship with Holy Communion

10:45 AM – Bible class & Sunday School

Green Pastures with Jesus is the podcast from Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church of Fairmont, MN. Here you’ll find a variety of segments to lead you to the green pastures of the Word of God, where our Good Shepherd feeds our faith.